There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their please.
(Problem is stated.)
The trouble with the maples,
(And they’re quite convinced they’re right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can’t help their feelings
If they like the way they’re made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can’t be happy in their shade.
(Obviously the maples are upset at the oaks, and the reasons are that the oaks are naturally bigger (by nature) and they want sunlight to, so they want equality - or some egalitarian policy.)
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream “Oppression!”
And the oaks just shake their heads
(Conflict.)
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
“The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.”
Now there’s no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
(Maples used the force of the State to make everyone equal regardless of that the oaks were naturally large and lofty. “By hatchet, axe, and saw” is pretty obvious use of State power.)
Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for Rush, was big into Ayn Rand. I’ve read the history on these lyrics and he said this song particularly has nothing to do with libertarianism, or anything of the sort, and it was based off a cartoon or a book he read about trees fighting like people. The song Anthem obviously shows the Rand influence.
"Know your place in life is where you want to be,
Don’t let them tell you that you owe it all to me.
Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round;
Hold your head above the ground and they won’t bring you down.
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
The wonders of the world, wonders of the world,
Wonders of the world they wrought.
Live for yourself – there’s no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more
Well, I know they’ve always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yes it was for me, not you, I came to write this song"